Oxford Health BRC Newsletter Issue 13

Welcome to the February 2025 issue of the Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (OH BRC) newsletter which summarises all recently published news and updates in one place.

To feature in future editions email Oxford Health R&D Comms

60 Seconds with… Dr Angharad de Cates, OH BRC Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Academic Lead

Dr Angharad de Cates is our new Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Academic Lead. She is an NIHR Clinical Lecturer and is passionate about EDI. Her current focus is on setting up her team and supporting ongoing EDI initiatives within our BRC. She emphasises celebrating existing achievements and looks forward to driving new initiatives until the BRC renewal in 2028.

Read more: OH BRC News

New Insights into diabetes medications (GLP-1RAs) to treat mental ill health

New research published this week from our BRC and the Department of Psychiatry reveals that GLP-1RAs, used for diabetes and obesity, may benefit mental health. The study explores their potential in treating cognitive and psychiatric conditions.

Read more: OH BRC News

NIHR Podcast: Antipsychotics

Recently our Director, Professor Upthegrove and Joanna Moncrieff, Professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry at UCL, discussed the pros and cons of gradual process of reduction and discontinuation of antipsychotics in people with long-term psychosis.

Listen on our website

OH BRC Theme launches new Parent Carer Research Network

Researchers in the OH BRC’s Mental Health in Development Theme, in partnership with mental health charity Charlie Waller, have launched the Parent Carer Research Network, which champions the voices of parents and carers in research.

Media films at Oxford Health Clinical Research Facility

Recently Professor Vanessa Raymont, Director of R&D at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (OHFT), discussed the READ-OUT dementia study with Sky News and The Times. The nationwide trial aims to revolutionise dementia diagnosis using blood tests, improving the UK's diagnosis rate.

OH BRC colleague receives Sir John Thorn Award

Dr Maxime Taquet has been awarded the 2024 Sir Jules Thorn Award for Biomedical Research. The Award recognises the outstanding quality of his cutting-edge research. Dr Taquet, NIHR Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry, who also works across the OH BRC Molecular Targets Theme and OH BRC Data Science Theme received the award for his project “Instability Measurement to Predict and Alter Clinical Trajectories of Severe Mental Illness (IMPACT-SMI)” which aims to improve the lives of patients with severe mental illness.

Read more: OH BRC News

Ask the expert webinar: Questions about ADHD

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, 18 March, from 7pm to 8pm. The public is invited to ask questions about the latest ADHD research to leading specialists, Senior Medic at Oxford Health Clinical Research Facility (OH CRF) Dr. Edoardo Ostinelli and Professor Samuele Cortese .

Annual Report 2024

Download the Department of Psychiatry 2024 annual report detailing groundbreaking research in Psychiatry, staff recognition for their world-leading contributions and more

New Diversity in Research group members get to know how they will make a difference

New members of the NIHR Oxford and Oxford Health BRCs’ Diversity in Research group met recently to learn about the BRCs' work and their role in making research more reflective of society. Established in 2021, the group aims to engage diverse communities in health research and make it more inclusive.

Read more: OH BRC News